Retiring Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admits the one regret of his 16-year Reds playing career was not winning the league title.

The 35-year-old played a key part in the famous 2005 Champions League final victory over AC Milan but the top domestic prize just evaded his grasp.

The closest he came to it was in 2008/09 when the club's record Premier League points tally of 86 - a season in which they lost just two matches - was still only good enough for a runners-up place to Manchester United.

Since then Carragher believes the standard of the Premier League has dipped - along with Liverpool's chances of competing for the top four, never mind the title.

"I wish I'd have won the league but you've given it everything and done as much as you can in terms of what you put into it," said the centre-back, who will bow out at Anfield in his 737th and final match for the club against QPR.

"We weren't good enough, all of us. It's very simple, there's no fancy reason or excuse, other teams in that particular season were better than us.

"A couple of times we went close but it was Manchester United or Arsenal.

"It's not something I lose sleep over, I've been very lucky to achieve some of the things I have.